Operation Night Hawk deters drug use

Published Nov. 28, 2006
By Frank McIntyre
Public Affairs

Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- A nighthawk swooped down on Vance Air Force Base in the early hours Saturday morning. But it wasn't an F-117A fighter visiting the base. This nighthawk was part of the fight against illegal drug use.
Operation Nighthawk, part of the Air Force's drug demand reduction program, calls for a random drug test sampling of military members entering the base during hours predetermined by the 71st Flying Training Wing Commander. It is a joint effort between the staff judge advocate, security forces, the medical group, squadron commanders and first sergeants.
According to Maj. Steve Dubriske, 71st staff judge advocate, "Operation Nighthawk provides Air Force leadership with another tool to identify military members who use illegal drugs."
While the drug testing last weekend took place during the early morning hours, Major Dubriske noted testing can occur at any time during the weekend. "The next operation may call for us to test randomly selected individuals assigned to Vance Air Force Base on Sunday afternoon."
This weekend's operation resulted in 23 people providing specimens for testing at the Air Force Drug Testing Lab at Brooks AFB, Texas. The members selected to participate are chosen by a predetermined criteria, such as all active duty in every third car entering the base.
Nighthawk also gave base leadership an opportunity to observe some of their people under different circumstances and hours than normal.
"I was very impressed by the number of personnel who used the Safe Ride program and/or a designated driver," said Maj. Juliana Astrachan. 71st Mission Support Squadron commander. "I wasn't sure what to expect at that hour of the morning, but everyone was very cordial, professional, and carried out the tasking without argument."
"One of the key aspects of the operation is deterrence," said Master Sgt. Joe Davis, 71st Mission Support Group first sergeant. "The word will spread like wild fire that the wing leadership is doing random inspections on weekends. Anyone contemplating taking any illegal substances should think twice because they never know when they might get tested."